LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – In what may have been the most climactic game of the season, the University of Saint Mary men's basketball team completed the season sweep of Ottawa University Saturday afternoon, pulling out a 95-88 victory. Senior guard Edvonte Copeland hit seven three-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Spires, while Teyvon Lundy had 16 points as both finished off Senior Day in the final home game in the Ryan Sports Center.

The Spires are now 13-16 overall and 13-11 KCAC sitting in sixth place. Seniors Copeland and Lundy were also recognized prior to the game for their contributions to the men's basketball program.

GAME FLOW
Saint Mary began the game on a 8-0 run before Ottawa started to respond. At the 12:10 mark of the first half, Copeland had a four point play after a deep three and a made free-throw after the foul to go up 16-15. The Braves would gain momentum and held a small lead at halftime, 44-41.
The Spires would not back down in the second half as they inched their way back from a six-point deficit and tied the game up 54-54. Dan Hailey connected on a three-point basket to tie the game. After a technical foul on Ottawa, Copeland sunk two free-throws and Tevin Killeen tipped in a basket to give the Spires the 59-56 lead. As tensions grew high, Hailey denied a basket for the Braves and Lundy found Copeland down the court where he hit a big time three-pointer to put the Spires up by 10, with just over six minutes to play. After another run by Ottawa, Howard worked his man down low and scored a big time basket to go up 89-85 with 1:30 left to play in the game. Free-throws down the stretch allowed the Spires to seal the win over the Braves.

Three Spires scored in double figures, Copeland 33, Howard 22 and Lundy chipped in 16. As a team Saint Mary shot 55.4 percent from the field and 56.5 percent from the three-point line. The Spires had 14 assists and seven blocks as a team, while hitting double-digit three-pointers for the ninth time this season.

WHATS AHEAD FOR THE SPIRES
Saint Mary will head to the KCAC Conference Tournament as the sixth seed and face No. 3 seed Friends University in Wichita, Kan. The first two rounds will be held at the opposing highest seeds campuses, with the Championship at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. The Tournament runs from Feb. 20-25.